A WWE anniversary celebration wouldn't be complete without the biggest star the company ever had. So will Stone Cold Steve Austin be at Wrestlemania 30? The answer is most likely. There have been long term plans within the WWE to have Austin at the New Orleans mega show in some capacity. However, Austin will not be wrestling, if he does appear it will be strictly within a character role. During the summer, the WWE seriously discussed a potential Austin vs HHH match for Mania. That match would have seen Austin coming in as the anti authority hero to topple Hunter's dictatorship. It would have been a mega draw to lapsed fans of the Attitude Era but the deal was never done. Austin has stated on his popular podcast that his age and the time needed to prepare for a match would make an in-ring return very difficult for him to consider. It's also thought that if Austin was to return to wrestling it would be against CM Punk. Stone Cold has often stated his admiration for the straight edge star, and the Texan has toyed with the idea of Austin vs Punk several times over the last few years. It appears that the Austin Punk match will now never happen. Stone Cold has made clear to WWE he will probably never wrestle again and Punk will reportedly face Triple H at Mania 30. Despite the lack of an in-ring return, there remains hope that Austin will feature at Wrestlemania. Close friend Jim Ross had
this to say on the matter; "One has to be booked and have something specific planned to do. A talent just doesn't show up and go into business for himself. If WWE wants Austin to return they have to work out something that both parties like. Simple."